Hole by Hole

A relatively gentle opening tee shot to an undulating tree-lined fairway. Take care on your approach shot as the green slopes from front to back – anything long of the flag will leave a quick putt down the slope. The green is guarded by 2 bunkers at the front

Warm Up! Such a simple hole, but is currently playing as the 5th toughest on the course. Make sure you’ve clipped a few on the practice ground so you’re ready to go right from the off.

A long par 5, aim left of the tee to avoid a large swale hidden on the right-hand side. Your second shot will be slightly blind as the last 200 yards are down a gradual slope to the green. A pond right and bunkers left defend the green for any long hitters attempting to reach in 2.

If the green is out of reach in two, aim to leave yourself a comfortable yardage on the approach, and don’t get suckered into attacking the pin. Middle of the green will provide you with an excellent birdie chance no matter where the pin is placed.

A long uphill par 4 that will test even the scratch golfer. Out of bounds right and mounding to the left present a difficult tee shot. No bunkers on this hole but the green is well protected by a steep McKenzie at the front which will punish any weak approaches. Par is a great score here.

Aim your approach back right of this green regardless of where the pin is placed. Left is a very difficult miss, whilst a right miss gives a chance of your ball kicking onto the green or leaves a little nudge down the bank with the ball feeding down to the hole.

The first of our wonderful par 3 holes. Playing over 200 yards from the white tees, slightly downhill with an elevated green which has huge run off’s to the front and left. Be sure to check the wind on this hole as clubbing is vital.

Take an extra club! Come up just one yard shy of this green and you’ll likely see your ball swallowed down the run off, leaving a nasty chip shot up the bank.

The second of our par 5’s presents a good birdie chance. Avoid the fairway bunker left and trees on both sides and you will be faced with a long second shot to another McKenzie green. Lay up short of the path and a good pitch will give a birdie chance – just make sure you check the pin position on a very long green.

Attack! There are twice as many birdies on this hole than any other on the course. This is not the time to play conservatively. Get the driver out and attack the hole with everything you’ve got.

A beautiful hole where strategy is key. Place your tee shot to the left but avoid the trees and water hazard. You’ll be left with an approach to a green which is banked around the left and back sides. The hazard runs all the way up to just short of the green. Anything missing the green right will be gathered into a swale leaving a tough pitch.

Don’t get suckered into attacking the front pin, short is not pretty. Take plenty of club, and use the slight McKenzie in the middle of the green to access the front positions.

Underestimate this hole at your peril. Short in yardage, but a very tricky tee shot to find flat land with two large swallows covering the length of the fairway. A very wide, but shallow green makes club selection for the approach very important, as anything weak will likely be punished by the run off.

Keep an eye on pin position before teeing off. If the pin is left, try to keep up the right, and if the pin is right, try to keep up the left side of the fairway. This will open up the green for your approach to allow you to attack the pin.

A simple tee shot into an uphill sloping fairway, with tree lining up the right-hand side. The biggest challenge comes when entertaining the green, which would petrify even the elite golfer. The huge right to left sloping green requires a smart approach shot and a whole lot of imagination with the flat stick.

There is no future being above the hole on this green. Stay low and left at all costs. Have a longer run at birdie putting up the green, then run to the next with your 2 putt.

One of the best holes on the course, the S.I 1 9th presents a challenge both off the tee and for your approach. The tree-lined fairway slopes right to left but the hole is a left to right dogleg. A good tee shot avoiding the trees on either side will leave a long approach to a well-bunkered green which is banked to the right. This green is deceptively quick when putting from front to back.

A left to right ball flight is required to hold the fairway off your tee shot. Peg your ball a little lower, open your body up, take aim to the copse of trees on the left and let your ball slide back into the fairway.

A very tough par 3. Ensure you know which way the wind is blowing, as the enclosed tee will likely play tricks on you. Hitting into a large, raised green with huge slopes front, back and to the right. Any ball missing on these sides will likely see their ball shoot away from the green.

Middle, left of this green is your safe spot. Accept a longer birdie chance on a relatively friendly green, rather than being punished by a right miss.

The 11th is a long and difficult hole that will test even the most skilled player. A straight tee shot favouring the left side will leave a long approach to a green which is very narrow at the front. Bunkers guard both sides of the green which also has another McKenzie. Par is a great score here.

Such a difficult 4. Par or better is made less than 10% of the time on this hole! If you have shots to play with, use them! Play as a three shotter, take your 5 and move onto the next. There will certainly be better opportunities to pick up a par.

A slight dogleg to the left, keep your tee shot up the right-wing to open up the green for your approach and avoid being blocked out by the trees down the left. This green slopes from front right to back left with out of bounds close to the green on the right. Full concentration required to get your approach close to the flag.

Club down on your approach. The yardage usually plays a little shorter, with the approach being slightly downhill. You’ll also usually see the ball run much further than usual with the slope of the green assisting.

The easiest par 4 on the golf course, time to pick up a birdie! A relatively short hole at just 301 yards, a drive of at least 200 yards is required to carry the huge dip in the fairway. The uneven, sloping lies will provide a tricky pitch shot into a long, narrow, left to right sloping green.

Big hitters let rip! Shorter hitters, leave yourself a little further back for a nice even lie. A tee shot of approx. 210 yards should leave you a nice 80 yard pitch from a lush flat lie.

The most rewarding par 3 on the course. Surrounded by bunkers and with a green that slopes back to front, a good tee shot will allow a good run at birdie.

Attack the front pins, but be careful when hitting into the back positions. With the green narrowing, and the slopes growing the further up the green you work. It can be very easy to find yourself out of position.

A long, sweeping right to left dog-leg Par 5. Long hitters may try to cut the corner, but with the fairway heavily tree-lined and with out of bounds down the left on the tee shot makes it high risk, reward. An intimidating second shot with OOB up the right, and tree lining either side will leave an approach into a long, narrow green with bunkering up the left hand side. One of the more friendlier greens on the golf course will allow a good run at birdie.

Don’t get greedy! The majority of us mere mortals cannot reach this green in two, and the good work of pulling off a drive over the corner can quickly be undone with the tight second shot. Unless you are very capable, play this hole as a three shotter, and play aggressively with your pitch and putt.

Don’t be fooled by the yardage, this hole can definitely bite back! A shootout 132 yard Par 3, heavily guarded by bunkers front, left and back, with a huge drop off to the right of the green. Pay attention when putting as this green slopes from left to right meaning most putts here have quite a bit of break.

Regardless of pin spot, middle of the green is fine. You’ll have a decent run at birdie and avoid any potential disasters which can easily escalate on this hole.

Hazard left. OOB right. Good tee shot required! A blind tee shot over the corner, with the hole slightly meandering to the left will leave you an approach shot into a well bunkered green, which is shallow and sloping from front to back. Even at just 325 yards, a par on this hole with a good score going is an achievement.

Don’t leave yourself too far back. An approach shot inside 120 yards is essential when hitting into this green. With the green sloping front to back, anything further back landing over the bunkers will not hold the green and will require the challenge of finding the tiny opening between the bunkers.

One of the most famous shots in Lancashire, the ‘Death or Glory’ Par 3 18th. A large, deep, tree-covered ravine separates the tee and green. Any shot struck poorly will mean 3 off the tee if the ravine is not carried. A complex green guarded by a couple of treacherous bunkers, slopes away from a high point in the middle, making putting difficult. Avoid the coffin bunker on the left not matter what, good luck!!!

If the pin is below the ridge, play your yardage as the front edge of the green. If the pin is beyond the ridge, play your yardage as the back of the green. This removes all the danger from the hole, and leaves you a much friendly chip or putt regardless of where the pin is placed.